Wilbur Harwell, 26, is being sought in connection to the stabbing. Harwell is described as standing 5’8″ and is an active-duty 3rd class petty officer.

Wilbur Harwell, photo courtesy U.S. Navy

The stabbing happened around 8:30 a.m. Friday at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads/Portsmouth Annex, which is in a separate building outside of the hospital.

Moir said the victim was transported to the hospital with critical injuries. During a news conference at 12:15 p.m. Friday, Capt. Jake Johansson, Commanding Officer Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads said the victim was in surgery.

The suspect was described as a white male with blonde hair and blue eyes weighing about 165 pounds. He was wearing tan cargo pants, a white t-shirt and blue sneakers at the time of the incident.

Johansson said the active-duty Sailors got into an altercation in front of the exchange that led to the stabbing. No information was available about what caused the altercation.

Jim Moir with the Navy told WAVY.com a Code White was in place at the installation, which has been closed to inbound and outbound traffic. A Code White could mean an active shooter situation or an armed suspect is in the area. In this case, it is referring to an armed suspect.

Personnel inside the hospital were told to shelter in place.

“Code White, Code White, this is not a drill,” a message sent to staff said. Staff were urged to report suspicious activity to 953-4220.

WAVY.com received a picture of doors barricaded by gurneys and other items inside the hospital.

Additionally, Parkview Elementary School and I.C. Norcom High School were put on lockdown.

A SWAT team is on site at this time. Det. Misty Holley with the Portsmouth Police Department told WAVY.com Portsmouth Police were assisting. The FBI is also on scene.

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